Practicing Yoga Doesn't Ease Asthma Symptoms, Study Finds

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Even though some people practice yoga to treat their asthma, the
exercise does not appear to alleviate asthma symptoms in adults,
according to a new study.

But asthma sufferers can still practice
yoga as a supplement standard treatments, like taking
anti-inflammatory drugs through an inhaler for the condition, the
researchers said.

Past research has found that many people with asthma practice
yoga to treat their symptoms — which include coughing, wheezing
and shortness of breath — despite a lack of evidence that it
helps to ease these symptoms.

"We reviewed the available data to see if [practicing yoga] made
a difference, and found only weak evidence that it does," Holger
Cramer, director of yoga research at the University of
Duisburg-Essen in Germany, said in a statement. "Yoga can't be
considered a routine intervention for patients with asthma at
this time. But it can be considered an alternative to breathing
exercises for asthma patients interested in complementary
interventions." [ Mind
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Cramer and his colleagues analyzed the results of 14 previously
published studies involving 824 adults. The studies looked for
evidence that yoga improved lung function, helped control
symptoms and improved their quality of life.

While some of the studies showed that certain forms of yoga —
like those that emphasize breathing — had some benefit based on
patient reports, the researchers found the overall assessment for
yoga's benefits inconclusive. Yoga appeared to be no more
effective than regular breathing exercises or no breathing
exercises, as measured by the patients' number of
asthma attacks and their use of medication.

People with asthma can continue to practice yoga if it makes them
feel better, but they should know that it does not replace
standard
asthma treatments, Michael Foggs, an allergist at the
American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), said
in a statement.

About 18.7 million people have asthma in the United States,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It
is important for people with asthma to take steps to prevent
symptoms from occurring in the first place, Foggs said. Patients
and their doctors should think ahead to avoid the specific
situations that trigger their asthma, such as exposure to
allergens, respiratory infections or cold weather, according to
the ACAAI. Taking daily long-term medications are also a way to
maintain control over asthma symptoms.

The study was published in the June issue of the journal Annals
of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.